
I headed back out to my car. I called my mechanic Dave, he said bring the car up. I called BCAA and they said they would send a tow truck. It was going to be about a 45 minute wait for the tow truck, what is a girl to do? I started returning phone calls and emails as I waited in my car.
After about 30 minutes needless to say I was getting cold. I had seen a few local reporters around seeing if there was a practice as well. I was about to throw in the towel and ask the tow truck driver for a ride home (when he finally got there) and all of a sudden I saw Kevin Bieksa pull up in his usual spot followed by Dan Hamhuis a minute later. Jason Garrison pulled up next and parked and right behind Garrison was Alex Edler. As Garrison and Edler were plugging their parking meters I saw Cory Schneider get out of Garrison's car grab his hockey bag and head inside. Cory Schneider was back! Practice was on! Finally I saw Malhotra pull up and run inside. All of this unfolded feet away from me. My car by this time had stopped smoking and the tow truck driver was supposed to be there any minute.
I decided to head into the arena. BCAA said they would give me a call when the tow truck driver was close. When I got into the rink there was a slew of players. Not only was there Bieksa, Hamhuis, Garrison, Elder, Schneider and Malhotra on the ice the Sedins were there plus Higgins, Lapierre, Jannik Hansen and Andrew Alberts!
All I can say is this was a fun fun fun practice to watch. Coach Dragicevic was running drills and the players were having so much fun. They were on the ice for about an hour.
Eventually the tow truck driver called me, he was in the parking lot. I ran out in the rain handed him my keys. I opted to stay for the rest of practice instead of take the ride home I was offered. I went back in the rink after watching my car get hooked up to the tow truck, It ended very shortly after. The players popped off the ice and one by one they were stopped by press. The press were happy to have something to talk about, the players were saying "hi, how are you?" to the press who some hadn't seen in months. All in all it was a great practice and in an odd way I can thank my car for overheating. If I hadn't had to wait at the rink I would have just left and not seen such a great practice. The only thing I am not looking forward to is the bill from my mechanic but Dave usually gives me a good deal so I can't complain.
Below read a little bit about one of the guys I will miss the most when the Canucks return to Rogers Arena, Milan Dragicevic! Enjoy X


I dont' know Dragicevic's schedule but I can tell you it seems like he is on the ice running drills with the Canucks when he could be working on upcoming games with his team or taking some time for himself.
Weather he is on the ice with the UBC Thunderbirds and Canucks or just the Canucks, Dragicevic runs a tight ship. He is involved in all the plays and always has both eyes on the ice. There are two things I love about Dragicevic's practices. First if you are on the losing team during a drill guaranteed you will be doing push ups. I have seen players do more push ups then ever before and I laugh every time. Second I love the "Dragicevic End of Practice Team Cheer" were everyone huddles in the center of the ice and says a little something before skating off.
Here are a few facts about Milan Dragicevic:
1) Dragicevic was hired in 2002 and is the 9th head coach in UBC history
2) Dragicevic was born in Dakovo, Croatia and grew un in Edmonton
3) Dragicevic was part of Team Canada at the 1999 under 17 World Junior Championship and brought home a bronze medal
4) Dragicevic coached the WHL's Vancouver Giants for two seasons
5) and finally Dragicevic has two children and I have seen him hulling around hockey bags with his children a few times out at UBC on the weekends
And that is Milan Dragicevic in a nut shell.